Samford attendance lowest in 11 years

Arkansas Razorbacks' Javontee Herndon celebrates his touchdown in the end zone in the second quarter against Samford Bulldogs during their game September 7, 2013 at War Memorial Stadium.

FAYETTEVILLE  Proponents for Arkansas keeping two games in Little Rock won't point toward Saturday when trying to sway decision makers.

The Razorbacks' game against Samford was the program's lowest attendance for a home game since 2002. The announced crowd at War Memorial Stadium for Arkansas' 31-21 win was 47,348.

The game was the seventh-lowest attendance for a game in Little Rock since the Razorbacks joined the Southeastern Conference in 1992. Arkansas is under contract to play two games at War Memorial Stadium through the 2016 season.

Reader poll

Ticket prices and the quality of competition likely explain the reason for Saturday's smaller crowd. Tickets for the game against the FCS opponent were $55 - the same price as SEC games against Texas A&M, South Carolina and Auburn in Fayetteville.

Season ticket sales in Little Rock have decreased since the LSU game was moved to Arkansas' on campus home last year. The Razorbacks and Tigers met nine times at War Memorial Stadium from 1994 to 2010.

Since expanding seating capacity for Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Arkansas' lowest attendance for a game played in Fayetteville was 52,683 against Weber State in 2001.

Low Attendance

Here is a look at the 10 smallest attendances at War Memorial Stadium since 1992.

Discussion

Matt Jones

Matt Jones is the online sports director for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A double graduate of the University of Arkansas, he is a member of the Football Writers Association of America and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and voter for the Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award.